α-glucosidases from filamentous fungi: Properties, structure, and applications

The recurrent crisis in the Persian Gulf illustrates the overdependence of the world on readily accessible and inexpensive sources of oil, and also shows the importance of developing alternative renewable sources of liquid fuels. Lignocellulosic materials, being inexpensive and abundant, represent one of the most promising raw materials for the production of such fuels. However, despite of numerous research efforts in different parts of the world, the biodegradation of lignocellulose (the main component of which is cellulose) is still not economically competitive, especially because of the high costs of the enzymes involved.1.